Masked robber hits NW burbs again

From Aug. 18 surveillance video of a convenience store robbery in the 1100 block of South Springinsguth Road (Schaumburg Police)

A masked armed robber has struck for the ninth time in Schaumburg, holding up a liquor store and forcing the clerk to hand over more than $200, police said today. Click inside for surveillance video.

The man, described as 20 to 25 years old and about 5 feet 8 inches tall, walked into the store on the 2300 block of Bode Drive at 1 p.m. Tuesday armed with a small, dark-colored handgun and wearing a black cloth that covered the upper half of his face, according to Police Sgt. John Nebl.

"It's not a character mask, just black material," Nebl said.

Tuesday's robbery was the second time the man had hit that liquor store since he began robbing Schaumburg commercial establishments on July 17, Nebl said. He has twice robbed the same convenience store and the same gas station, taking between $100 and $200 each time. The other three robberies were at different convenience stores, Nebl said.

The same masked robber also appears to have struck three or four places in neighboring towns, Nebl said.

Police have created a sketch of the robber from a witness who saw the man exit the convenience store on Bode Drive after robbing it on Aug. 9 (right). The man removed his mask in the parking lot and the witness saw his face, Nebl said.

Police have released the sketch as well as video clips of the man taken from several security cameras at the places he has robbed. They also have released still photographs from the videos, Nebl said.

"We're hoping people will recognize his body language or mannerisms," Nebl said.